HOME
A home is usually seen as a place of residence or refuge. It is the place in which an individual or a family can rest and store personal possessions.
It also refers to your country of origin and the place where you were raised. In this sense 'home' refers to a physical place, but 'home' may also relate to a mental or emotional state of refuge or comfort, and not to a physical site.
The concept of home has many different connotations and it means different things to different people sometimes depending on race, culture, identity, religion etc.
Visual expressions of home can also take many different forms….
Try to avoid stereotypical visualisations of a house without thought or context. If you choose to express a literal representation of a home/house think carefully about what the building means TO YOU and why you want to use a particular type of building.
A floor plan can be an interesting way to include an image of a home into an artwork without drawing a home in the traditional sense.
How would you include this?
There are also stereotypical representations of home. These could take the form of “typical” low income housing vs. Upper middle class colonial homes.
There is the possibility to explore this idea historically in terms of colonial settlers that brought their architecture aesthetic to Africa e.g Cape Dutch houses.
Can you think of more stereotypes and what they could mean?
The embroidery created by Miss de Vries (left) in 2013 is a literal representation of a home.
BUT….
De Vries used the reverse side of the embroidery to to reinforce the ramshackle and derelict essence of this abandoned smallholding.
The shotgun picks up on the idea that African farm homes were/are unsafe in the past, but this sentiment is still relevant today. This image was also a reference to her grandparents’ life in Namibia and how different it was to the way of living in the Netherlands.
By including these subtle layers and symbols the artwork becomes more meaningful and avoids being read as an obvious representation of a house.
In the traditional sense a home can usually be divided into public, private and working spaces, although these spaces are often integrated in many homes.
Public areas would include sitting rooms, dining rooms and hallways. Private areas would be bedrooms and bathrooms, while studios, workshops and garages.
The bedroom is often seen as a refuge or a safe place. Think of your childhood bedroom….
Leora Farber. A Room Of Her Own. 2006-7
The feeling of home can be more prominent in a single space or room.
Farber’s work (right) relies heavily on nostalgic memories and symbols of both South African and English culture. Farber combines these using a wide range of materials and media.
See more HERE or ask Miss de Vries for Farber’s book.
Nostalgic representations of home can take the form of a family portrait.
Often these portraits were taken on special occasions e.g. birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Christmas, New Years etc.
What are considered special occasions in your home?
Miss de Vries’ Master’s work was based on representations of home and the resulting identity attached to these notions of home.
One way in which she represented her memories of home was to paint portraits of her late grandparents, communicating the idea that elders are the fundamental “building blocks” of a family and that family’s concept of home.
Even though de Vries’ work is rooted in her quest for identity, the notion of home was quite an important element.
Home can be described as a secular refuge and source of comforts and reassurance that are unavailable elsewhere.
Furthermore the geographic placement of a home defines language, sustenance, social interaction, traditions and concerns.
Read more about de Vries’ research HERE
FIGURE 6: Varenka Paschke, Safely Matched, acrylic paint, 2006.
Again the feelings around HOME can be ambivalent.
Class Discussion…
What does HOME mean to you?
What type of home do you have?
Class Discussion………
What media and techniques do you want to explore/perfect this term?
Remember that the medium you use can have an effect on the artwork that you create. E.g. if your home is very messy - use a messy medium to reinforce the idea of chaos. What could your depiction of a chaotic home mean? Symbolism?
Sourcebook
Sourcebooks are so important when preparing for a PAT.
Remember, if your sourcebook is not good your PAT won’t be good either because you have not prepared.
Your sourcebook should include the following information.
Sourcebook Rubric from 2015
Part of your drawing mark consists of a concept drawing.
This drawing is compulsory and it must reflect your concept or an element of your concept.
In this case you could draw something along the lines of a house or a home to showcase your drawing ability and your concept development.
This concept drawing counts towards the 30% allocated for your drawing mark.
You will also be required to complete a final intention drawing.
This drawing is the plan for your PAT. This drawing must include the following elements;
If you do not have a final intention drawing you will not be prepared to create your PAT. This drawing/plan is also COMPULSORY!
These are the criteria you will be marked on.
If you do not include all the information you throw away 10 marks at a time.
If your work is not finished or neatly presented you also throw away marks.
Final Rubric from 2015
Activity 1 Amulets
An amulet is an object whose most important characteristic is the power ascribed to it to protect its owner from danger or harm. This characteristic can be linked to the idea of a home...
Homes are usually safe places that shelter us. Homes are places of refuge.
Now create your own ceramic amulet.
Incorporate found objects and other materials into your design to create a “mixed media” amulet.
Your amulet should be roughly the size of your palm and should be functional - meaning you must be able to wear it.
Materials and Techniques 5 | Representation of the theme HOME 5 | Functionality 5 | Impression and Presentation 5 | TOTAL 20 |
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Amulet Rubric
This amulet is due at the END OF TERM 4 and this mark will supplement your PAT mark in Grade 11.
Creating this amulet is COMPULSORY and if it is not completed you will lose these 20 marks - this will have a big impact on your Term 1 PAT mark in Grade 11!
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!